Current theory on political representation is stressing the need to change our traditional focus considering new channels (deliberative and participatory mechanisms), actors (groups and individuals that present themselves as representatives) and forms of institutionalization (in multi-level systems). But once representation no longer has an electoral basis identified with the chief institution, who counts as a democratic representative is difficult to assess (Castiglione and Warren, 2003).
That openness can produce: a) Competing forms on different levels, that generates collisions of legitimacies; b) Diffusion of accountability; c) Problems to represent (construct) the public good.
This paper tries to apply these new developments on the concept of representation to the debate about the democratic quality of the EU, considering it part of a wider multi-level political system where a “system of representation” has to be institutionalized.
